Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Icipe Monthly Digest – Volume 1, Issue 1, January 2025, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Mentoring And Training In Performance Librarianship, Mallory Sajewski

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Performance librarians, or ensemble librarians, consist of a subset of music librarians who serve the music and information needs of orchestras, bands, and other performing ensembles. As there is no formal training system for performance librarians, the skills required to win an audition for a job must be learned by working with a mentor. This study investigated the mentoring process experienced by both mentors and mentees in the training and career preparation of performance librarians. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews with 21 performance librarians in the United States and used thematic analysis to analyze the …

“Science Belongs Everywhere”: Outlooks On Post-Secondary Stem Education For Correctional Centers In Virginia, Shelita R. Augustus

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 679 per 100,000 residents, the highest among independent democratic nations. This scoping review examines perspectives on post-secondary STEM education to promote STEM education within Virginia's correctional facilities, assesses programs to improve rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address systemic inequalities by developing the scientific potential of incarcerated individuals. The review finds that while STEM education in correctional facilities faces limitations, its potential benefits are being realized nationwide. Virginia has made strides through initiatives like House Bill 2158, which aims to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals. Examples such as the programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds …

Capturing Non-Linearity Between Household Debt And Gdp: A Deep Var Approach, Bram Nutt

Economics Honors Projects

Household debt plays a significant role in shaping the macroeconomy. The relationship between growth and household debt is nonlinear; however, most research regarding household debt and GDP utilizes linear techniques. Using a Deep Vector Autoregression (Deep VAR) model, a recursive neural network-based approach that has been shown to outperform linear alternatives, I analyze the relationship between household debt and GDP using quarterly data from an unbalanced panel of 39 countries over the past 40 years. The Deep VAR outperforms linear alternatives, further providing evidence that the relationship between household debt and GDP is non-linear. Using impulse response functions (IRF), I …

The Employment Effects Of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions During The Covid-19 Pandemic In The United States, Christine Oduor

Economics Honors Projects

This paper analyzes the impacts of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and Economic Support policies on employment across U.S. states during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It utilizes a Two-Way Fixed Effects estimator to assess the overall impacts of these policies, along with sector-level analysis over different time snapshots to understand the effects on various employment sectors at different time periods, extending to August 2024. The results show that stricter NPIs negatively affected employment, especially in close-contact industries like leisure and hospitality. Business services employment sectors were the least affected and recovered quicker post-pandemic. Economic support policies partially mitigated these effects, with …

Risk, Routes, And Media Reports: The Impacts Of Perceptions Of Crime On Bus Ridership In Minneapolis And Saint Paul, Christina Spicher

Economics Honors Projects

By collecting data on media reports about crimes on or near public transit, I study how changes in perceptions of crime affect bus ridership at the route level in Minneapolis and Saint Paul between 2015-2019. Treating the publication dates of these media reports as events, I perform panel event studies. Based on these models, I find no statistically significant evidence that media reporting about crimes on or near bus routes impacts ridership. With that said, my work points out important gaps in the literature where researchers and policymakers still have the opportunity to more deeply understand a key determinant of …

Cross-Sectional Household Heterogeneity In The Business Cycle, Gavin Engelstad

Economics Honors Projects

Research into the effects of business cycles often focuses on aggregate macroeconomic consequences. This paper explores the heterogeneous effects of business cycles on households at different wealth and income levels. I perform a Bayesian estimation on a HANK model to identify business cycle forces. Then, I decompose the business cycle shocks and transmission channels driving changes in household decision rules using variance and historical decompositions. I find the factors causing changes in consumption levels for households vary substantially across the income distribution and the factors causing changes in savings levels vary substantially across the wealth distribution. In addition, I find …

Fy2024 Association Of College And Research Libraries (Acrl) Statistical Survey: University Of Rhode Island Data, Julia Lovett

University Libraries Reports & Statistics

The report contains FY2024 data as submitted by the University of Rhode Island Libraries for the 2024 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Annual Survey.

Professional Quality Of Life Of Air Force First Sergeants: An Exploratory Study, Ryan K. Barney

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

This exploratory study was designed to measure the prevalence and correlates of professional quality of life constructs in a novel population: active-duty Air Force First Sergeants. Given the similarities in duties and stressors that First Sergeants encounter with those of other helping professionals, this study aimed to expand the scope of existing professional quality of life research by applying Stamm’s (2010) professional quality of life framework to cross-sectional survey research with a sample of First Sergeants. Four primary research questions guided this study: first, what is the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress (STS), burnout, and compassion satisfaction in a sample …

"Dental Health For Mental Wealth": A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Underexplored Impact Of Oral Health And Behaviors On Neurobiology And Psychological Well-Being, Brooke C. Beck

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This thesis explores the link between oral health and psychological state, specifically, the effect of oral health on psychological state and how appropriate oral health impacts this relationship. A review of the literature was conducted and studies interpreted within the scope of oral health’s impact on psychological health and detailing some of the pathways proposed for such a link. The literature search was limited to the English language from well-known databases mainly from 2015 to 2025. A few outliers are present to include foundational information.

The effects of oral disease and oral self-care behaviors were dissected through a biochemical perspective, …

Ua19/16/5/16 Athletic Media Relations - Volleyball Film/Ideo/Audio File, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Video of WKU volleyball games.

Learning In Nonleafcutting Fungus-Gardening Ants, Elizabeth D. Boshers

Biology Theses

Social complexity influences learning and other cognitive behaviors, but for insects, this influence is not well understood. Delayed rejection is an aversive learning behavior previously studied exclusively in leafcutting ant species, the most socially complex of the fungus-gardening ants. Fungus-gardening ants are unique in that they do not directly consume the material they forage, using it instead as substrate to cultivate a symbiotic fungus on which the ants are obligately dependent. Here, I attempt to induce delayed rejection in several fungus-gardening ant species that exhibit a range of social complexity, then compare the characteristics of delayed rejection behavior among species. …

Show And Tell… Ing What?: Correlation And Moderation Analyses Of Public Displays Of Affection And Romantic Relationship Satisfaction, Communication, And Adult Attachment Styles, Samantha Brooks M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Public Displays of Affection (PDA) amongst romantic couples are clearly shown in everyday life, though paradoxically, they are largely unexplored and therefore poorly understood. Not only is it unknown how PDA relates to other well-studied components of romantic relationships, but it is also unclear who engages in PDA. The present study investigated the relationship between public displays of affection and previously examined, fundamental components of romantic relationships including relationship satisfaction and attachment and communication styles. It then investigated the moderating effects of relationship satisfaction on respective communication and attachment styles and PDA. Sample size was 105 participants (N= 105). Students …

Breaking The Barrier: Implications Of 2024 Ruling Against Nar On Home Prices And Market Quality, Minseo Kim

Economics Honors Projects

On August 17, 2024, a court ruling changed real estate market practices that prohibit the posting of real estate agent commission rates on multiple listing services and mandate buyer contracts that specify agent commission fees. Real estate agent commissions function as intermediary transaction costs, and this ruling aims to potentially reduce these costs. Using data on single family home transactions in St. Paul, Minnesota from Zillow.com, Realtor.com, and Ram- sey County Property Tax database, I utilize a difference in difference model to examine the short-term impacts of the ruling on market dynamics in resi- dential real estate such as home …

Good Trips, Bad Trips: Attachment, Connectedness, And Mental Health In Psychedelic Experiences, Sean Michael Nickley

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Research into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies and the overall psychedelic experience is in a period of acceleration, with hopes from multiple disciplines that such research might uncover novel and effective treatments for myriad psychological disorders. Much research to date has examined the neurobiological underpinnings of psychedelic states. The current study, existing as part of a larger trend examining the phenomenological and psychological mechanisms of psychedelic experience, sought to examine the ways in which attachment dynamics influenced the type of psychedelic experience—mystical versus challenging—and the subsequent effects on social connectedness and psychiatric symptoms. Prior research had suggested that individuals with more anxious attachment …

The Underlying Significance Of The Newfoundland Fishing Rights In The 1783 Treaty Of Paris, Marvin L. Simner

Psychology Publications

No abstract provided.

The Air Of The Now And Gone, Sarah E.K. Smith, Kirsty Robertson

FIMS Publications

This publication accompanies the 2025 exhibition The Air of the Now and Gone, curated by Kirsty Robertson and Sarah E.K. Smith. They ask: in the face of the “wicked problem” of climate change, which precludes easy solutions, how can we move forward? How can we address a crisis that prompts apathy and disconnect? In their introductory essay, Robertson and Smith discuss the works of the artists, who refuse detachment and simultaneously complicate idealism. Like the artists, the curators seek to encourage diverse responses to the realities of climate change, moving beyond apathy and despair to engage empathy, wonder, joy, …

Is There An Association Between Living In A Rural Area And The Incidence Of Postoperative Complications Or Hospital Readmissions Following Left Ventricular Assist Device (Lvad) Implantation, Compared To Urban Lvad Recipients? A Systematic Review., Samrat Gollapudi, Abhiram Gollapudi, Sri Banala, Sheraj Singh, Kiran Tadi

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are utilized as a therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure. While LVAD implantation can enhance survival rates and quality of life, the procedure has its risks, and postoperative complications are common. This review aims to investigate whether there is an association between living in a rural area and the incidence of postoperative complications or hospital readmissions following LVAD implantation, compared to urban LVAD recipients.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature review examined studies that compared postoperative outcomes between rural and urban LVAD recipients. Data on adverse events, hospitalizations, and mortality rates were extracted, focusing …

C-Dem Advisory Council Meeting May 12, 2025, Laura Stephenson, Allison Harell

Meeting Notes

No abstract provided.

Family Secrets: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Self After Dna Revelation, Joanna Rybnick M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

How much do we know about our families? There is limited research on the influx of family secrets revealed through genetic ancestry (genealogical/DNA) testing, a method utilized to learn about genealogy and family history that has become increasingly popular (Jorde & Bamshad, 2020). The present study stems from available research and archival stories and allows for a deeper understanding of how family secrets may present themselves in therapy. Previous research has focused on the content of secrets, categorizing themes within secrets, and the various functions of secret-keeping within family dynamics (Vangelisti, Caughlin, & Timmerman, 2001; Vangelisti & Caughlin, 1997). Additionally, …

Celebrating Faculty Scholarship 2025, Smith College Libraries

Celebrating Faculty Scholarship: Bibliographies

Scroll down to view the bibliography of selected scholarly and creative work produced by Smith College faculty and submitted by faculty for the 2025 celebration which took place in the Neilson Library Skyline Reading Room, Smith College on April 24, 2025.

Copyright...Not Wrong, Natasha J. Jenkins

LWLC Faculty Research

PDF and PowerPoint presentation made during a Staff Opportunity for Learning and Engagement (SOLE) Session at the Levi Watkins Learning Center on the campus of Alabama State University, March 18, 2025. The PowerPoint is a PDF file. The supplemental list of helpful resources is the "Related file".

Waldorf Education: New Perspectives On A Holistic Approach, Martyn Rawson

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This article outlines some of the core ideas underlying the practices of Waldorf education as re-envisioned by an experienced practitioner, as a contribution to the discussion about the educational implications of transpersonal psychology. It outlines a pedagogical anthropology that takes the spiritual dimension into account. It distinguishes between the lived body, the emergent psyche and the agentic Self as the spiritual core of being in the person. Learning is explained as a transformative process that involves the changing relationships to one’s own body, to others and to the world through which potentialities become abilities. The aim of the transformative education …

Ua19/16/1/1 2025 Hilltopper Baseball Media Guide, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

2025 baseball media guide produced by WKU Athletic Media Relations, includes athletic records and statistics, photographs, schedule and information regarding opponents.

Toward An Ecosystem Of Non-Fungible Tokens From Mapping Public Opinions On Social Media, Yunfei Xing, Justin Z. Zhang, Yuming He, Yueqi Li

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

As blockchain technology advances, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are emerging as unconventional assets in the commercial market. However, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive NFT ecosystem that addresses the prevailing public concerns. This study aimed to bridge this gap by analyzing user-generated content on prominent social media platforms such as Twitter, Weibo, and Reddit. Employing text clustering and topic modeling techniques, such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation, we constructed an analytical framework to delve into the intricacies of the NFT ecosystem. Our investigation revealed seven distinct topics from Twitter and Reddit data and eight topics from Weibo data. Weibo users predominantly …

Research Report: Confidence In Institutions, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley D. Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

This report details 943 responses to the 2025 Nebraska Rural Poll, the 30th annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about their confidence in institutions. Trends for some of the questions are examined by comparing data from the 2017 Poll and 2021 Poll to this year’s results. In addition, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged:

• Rural Nebraskans’ confidence in many institutions did not change much during the past eight years. However, more rural Nebraskans have a …

Reference Interview Recommendations For Text And Data Mining, Laura Egan

Librarian Publications

Text and data mining (TDM) has become increasingly important in research and teaching in higher education. Researchers at all levels are engaging with larger quantities of data than previously feasible. The exponential increase in the availability of text data has resulted in a proliferation of the number of tools that facilitate text data processing and analysis. While TDM skills may have been optional or a disciplinary focus in the past, they are increasingly employed in a broader range of fields. Students and researchers may also be inspired to use TDM tools as they come across examples while looking for new …

Research Report: Insights Into Community, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Rural Nebraskans are more positive about the current change in their communities this year but are less positive about its future. Starting three years ago, the proportion believing their community changed for the worse was more than the proportion believing it had changed for the better (similar to what occurred in 2003 and 2009). However, last year that trend reversed back to the typical pattern and continued this year. This year, more people believe their community has changed for the better than has changed for the worse. When asked about what they expect ten years from now, this year more …

The Interplay Between Friendship Quality And Emotion Regulation In The Prediction Of Weight-Related Concerns Among Adolescent Girls, Vasavi Ganesan Shanthi

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Adolescent girls are especially vulnerable to weight-related concerns such as body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and body surveillance. These issues are often linked to difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) and the quality of friendships. This study explored how ER and friendship quality, both independently and interactively, predict these weight-related issues. A sample of 106 girls aged 11–21 completed questionnaires on ER, friendship quality, body dissatisfaction, objectified body consciousness, and disordered eating behaviors. Results from hierarchical regression analyses showed that greater ER difficulties were significantly associated with increased body dissatisfaction, emotional eating, and restrained eating. Additionally, negative friendship quality predicted emotional eating. …

Letter From The Faculty Editor, Beth Kegley

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.